We review products independently, but we may earn affiliate commissions from buying links on this page. Terms of use. SIM-only deals are a great way to save. If you don’t mind paying for a brand new unlocked device outright, or you want to keep your current phone, cheap SIM deals could be the answer. To make things easier, we’ve created a handy guide, and compared the best SIM-only deals across all the top UK networks for August 2019. There’s a great selection of deals from the big hitters such as O2, Three, Vodafone, and EE, and you can compare these SIM-only deals using our list below. You can also compare more UK SIM-only deals by using the PCMag comparison tool. Best Contract SIM-only Deals HOT DEAL - Three: £10 p/m for 6 months (£20 p/m thereafter), unlimited data, unlimited minutes and texts HOT DEAL - Smarty: £10 p/m for 1 month, 8GB data, unlimited minutes and texts Vodafone: £30 p/m for 12 months, unlimited data, unlimited minutes and texts, £120 cashback EE: £24 p/m for 12 months, 50GB data, unlimited minutes and texts Contract SIM-only deals are cost-effective when it comes to mobile contracts. Most providers will want you to stick with them for as long as possible, so they tend to give you an even better deal if you’re willing to sign up for an extended period, which is normally around 12 months. For mobile contracts terms, 12 months isn’t a long period of time, and this allows you to look elsewhere when your contract is up. Make sure you're happy with your choice before opting into a long contract. If you tend to change your mind easily, it may be better to stick with a 30-day SIM-only plan instead. Our pick: Half price all you can eat data There are absolutely no data limits with this deal, and no download restrictions either. At £10 per month for 6 months, you can experience unlimited data at its best, and with 5G signals if you've got the right phone. This August, Three will become 5G ready in London, with other locations to follow. As a result, new and existing Three customers will have access to the new 5G network at no extra cost, as long as they have a 5G capable device. Best 30-day SIM-only Deals VOXI - £15 p/m, 20GB data, unlimited minutes and texts - Get the deal iD Mobile - £12 p/m, 6GB data, unlimited minutes and texts - Get the deal Smarty - £10 p/m, 8GB data, unlimited minutes and texts - Get the deal Three: £26 p/m, unlimited data, unlimited minutes and texts - Get the deal 30-day plans are extremely flexible SIM-only options. The length of contract means you’re not locked down for any great period of time, so you can change or cancel if you see fit. There are often plenty of appealing short-term deals out there. Keep an eye on the smaller operators such as giffgaff, VOXI, Smarty, or iD Mobile for good offers. Smarty will also will also give you money off data you haven’t used, all the way down to the last MB at the end of the month. Just remember these are rolling plans, so you’ll still need to cancel before switching out. Our pick: VOXI offers unlimited social media usage on their data plans, meaning you won't eat into your data when you use apps like Facebook or Snapchat. This is a big deal for those who tend to never stop scrolling on their socials, and is even more appealing considering how cheap the SIM-only deal is. £15 for 20GB data, unlimited calls and texts, and unlimited social media - all rolling on a 30-day contract, meaning you can cancel anytime. SIM-only Deals​​​ for an iPad or Tablet If you’re looking for a SIM for your tablet or dongle, there are an array of networks that will happily supply you with a data-only SIM card. The most important thing to consider is how much data you’ll actually need. Best Unlimited Data and Big Data SIM-only Deals Three: £10 p/m for 6 months (£20 p/m thereafter), unlimited data, unlimited minutes and texts - Get the deal EE: £27 p/m for 12 months, 80GB data, unlimited minutes and texts - Get the deal O2: £30 p/m for 12 months, 60GB data, unlimited minutes and texts - Get the deal VOXI: £20 p/m for 1 month, 45GB data, unlimited minutes and texts - Get the deal The data-hungry out there should consider these plans, especially if you stream from the likes of Netflix and YouTube when you’re out and about. Top providers such as O2 and EE can provide big data plans, and Three has its tempting unlimited package. Best 5G SIM-only Deals If you want to opt for a 5G SIM-only contract, you'll need to make sure your area is covered by 5G, otherwise you'll be paying for a 5G service that will be running on 4G instead. Additionally, if you want to pick up a 5G SIM, make sure you're currently sporting a capable device. They're pricey, for good reason, but you can pick up a decent Samsung Galaxy S10 5G deal if you look in the right places. Vodafone is cheaper when it comes to SIM-only deals, but they can impose a download limit unless you opt for the most expensive plan, which is £30. This is still less expensive than the cheapest EE deal, which is £32 p/m for 20GB of 5G data. O2 will be turning on its 5G network this October, while Three is set to offer its unlimited 5G SIM only deal at no extra cost in an anticipated August release window, meaning it will be £20 per month for the SIMO deal. EE £32 p/m for 12 months - 20GB data, unlimited minutes and texts - Get the deal £37 p/m for 12 months - 40GB data, unlimited minutes and texts - Get the deal £47 p/m for 12 months - 60GB data, unlimited minutes and texts - Get the deal Vodafone Vodafone is taking a different approach with its 5G coverage and contracts. Instead of any data limits, the provider will now impose download limits on its unlimited contracts. You can find out more and check out all the best Vodafone SIM-only deals by heading to our dedicated article. £23 p/m for 12 months - unlimited data, unlimited minutes and texts, 2mbps download speed - Get the deal £26 p/m for 12 months - unlimited data, unlimited minutes and texts, 10mbps download speed - Get the deal £30 p/m for 12 months - unlimited data, unlimited minutes and texts, Maximum download speed - Get the deal Three Three is going to be a big competitor in the 5G market, and it’s even promoting itself as the fastest 5G network in the UK, which is a massive claim. You can expect Three to turn on its 5G network on in August, after which point all Three SIMO deals will be 5G capable. Three: £10 p/m for 6 months (£20 p/m for 18 months), unlimited data, unlimited minutes and texts - Get the deal What is a SIM-only deal? A SIM-only deal is very similar to your typical mobile phone contract. You get your allocated minutes, texts and data - just without the phone included alongside. These deals are usually much cheaper because you aren't paying for an expensive phone and your SIM simultaneously. SIM deals on each network Unsure whether there’s a SIM-only deal that suits you? Plenty of providers will offer a selection of benefits for buying into their SIM-only deals. O2 SIM deals - O2 deals can offer 4G SIM deals and benefits such as exclusive high street offers or freebies with big brands. EE SIM deals - EE is the UK’s fastest network and often offers extras such as free BT Sport and Apple Music. It has recently introduced a 5G network. Three SIM deals - You can pick up unlimited everything with Three and you won’t be charged for data roaming abroad. Vodafone SIM deals - Vodafone can offer extra data boosts on its cheap SIM-only contracts, and will soon be expanding into a 5G capable network. How do SIM-only deals work? SIM-only deals give you a lot of control over what plan will suit you best, while also being cost effective. Purchasing a SIM deal will mean, when it is activated, it will be locked to the network you've purchased it from, but it won't be locked to your phone. When you decide on the best deal for you, you’re paying for the SIM card and nothing else. You can use the SIM with your old device, and swap it out when you pick up the latest model. This means you’ll get to keep your current plan, and all the personal information that’s tied to the SIM you’ve been using, such as contract numbers, photos, and messages. Swapping handsets should be a fairly stress free experience. Should I switch to a SIM-only deal? Pros Cost - SIM deals in 2019 tend to be a lot cheaper than ordinary mobile phone contracts. Whether you opt for a monthly fee or a pay-as-you-go, you’re never paying for a handset with your plan. So in most cases a SIM-only deal will be cost effective if you don’t want a brand-new handset included. Flexibility - Most mobile contracts are tied to lengthy terms of 12, 18, 24 months or longer. With a SIM deal, you have plenty more options for contract length - you can even pick up a SIM on a simple 30-day contract, allowing you to re-evaluate every month. Credit check - Passing a credit check is far more likely for a SIM-only deal. Those who struggle to pass a mobile phone contract’s credit check, may want to opt for a SIM-only deal as the network provider doesn’t have to include an expensive handset in the deal. This can also be a great way to further improve your credit score for the future. Keep your old phone - Love your current phone and don’t want to part with it? SIM-only deals will allow you to do this. Cons New device costs - SIM-only deals are great for a low cost monthly data hit, but when you want to finally move onto a new device, you will have to pay for a new handset completely outright. It is best to keep this in mind when considering your mobile phone contract options. Exclusives - A number of networks will reserve particularly good deals for specific handsets, meaning those who opt for SIM-only will miss out. Network offers - You may find that the best deal for you is only available on a particular network, meaning you may have to compromise on certain factors (minutes, texts, data). Should I go for a short-term or long-term SIM deal? This depends on your preferences and priorities when choosing a SIM deal. Greater flexibility is on offer if you decide on a 30-day deal, which means no long contract. However, if costs are a big concern, 12-month deals will be more cost effective in the long run. When it comes down to it, you want to try and balance your call, text, and data limits in a way that will suit your everyday life, and judge whether these will change over the contract period. What kind of SIM card do I need? SIM cards continue to get smaller and smaller, and depending on your phones age, it will use one of the following: Nano SIM - a common SIM card for most modern phones. The recent iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices will use this. Micro SIM (12 x 15mm) - Typically used in mid-ranged and older devices Standard SIM (15 x 25mm) - Don’t be fooled, this isn’t the standard anymore. Some older devices may still use this, but the smaller models are far more common. Don’t be too concerned about the size of your SIM. When opting into a SIM-only plan, your network will supply you with a three-in-one SIM that will work on any device. Once you receive it, you just have to pop out the right size, and you’re all set. Can I keep my mobile phone number? Switching networks... It’s incredibly easy to switch your phone number over to a new device. All you need is a PAC (Porting Authorisation Code) from your old network. Recent regulations from Ofcom now mean you can switch providers without having to call up your old network! All it takes is one text, here are the relevant steps: If you want to switch and keep your existing phone number text "PAC" to 65075 to begin the process Your existing provider will respond by text within a minute You will then receive the switching code (PAC), which will be valid for 30 days All provider's reply must also include important information about any early termination charges or pay-as-you-go credit balances Your PAC code can be handed to new provider, and the company must arrange for the switch to complete within one working day One in six people want to keep their mobile number when they switch. For those who don't, you can text "STAC" to 75075 to request a "service termination authorisation code" How reliable are the smaller networks? Smaller providers such as Smarty or giffgaff are typically cheaper options as they don’t operate pricey high-street shops or extensive customer service. Rest assured, they are as legitimate as the other more prominent providers such as O2, EE, Vodafone, or Three. Compare SIM-only deals If you want to compare even more UK SIM-only deals, you can head on over to the PCMag comparison tool that packs an even greater range of SIM-only deals.

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